Homemade Sill Mats Ideas??

[RobertKB]

I also would like to know what I could use to clean up the outer aluminum strips on the outer edge of the sill mats. Mine are beat up, can they be acid dipped, or how can I get them to clean up and shine...............Fred

On the aluminum sill plates on my '63 Fairlane I first used an SOS pad and scrubbed the s*#+ out of them and they looked good. I then used a good metal polish and rubbed by hand and buffed and I was pleased with them.

[steveplym]

Is there anyone out there that is rebuilding these or selling them individually? I've looked on ebay and I'm not interested in paying over $400 a set. I've got three good mats on my car and the drivers side front has some tears in it. Wondered if I could just get one recovered and save some money.

[Norm's Coupe]

Robin, thanx, I have done something sinilar, I may laminate it to 1/8 hardboard or something similar to make it rigid and level, mine looks much like yours did, very acceptable.........Fred

Fred,

I would not use hardboard, laminated or not for sill plates. Remember any water, even from when you wash your car will go down between the window and door, then out the drain hole in the bottom of the door. It will land right on your sill plate. I would use thin aluminum or steel, then laminate that with whatever you want to laminate it with. If water was to get into that hardboard somehow, it would ruin it.

[dndrodshop]

Saw my name pop up and thought I would update this thread with photo.

Black Anodized then machined.

[builtfercomfort]

On my coupe, I used ribbed rubber matting, cut it to shape and glued it to the sill.

It's still there, and looking good, many years on.

Of course, the pattern on the rubber is not correct, but it's black, sharp looking and non-slip.

An easy and cheap fix.

Here's a link to the product I used (UK supplier, but I'm sure you will get similar in the US)

www.woolies-trim.co.uk/pc-1709-120-broad-rib-rubber-matting.aspx

Ok, this post is 13 months old but does anyone know a (hopefully cheap) US source for this rubber matting? I need to do running boards for my 39 Chrysler, so I need strips about 6 feet long. Last year I found one place (I forget where) that was selling it for $15 / foot plus very high shipping, it would have been about $140 delivered. Anyone know a reasonably-priced source?

[Norm's Coupe]

Ok, this post is 13 months old but does anyone know a (hopefully cheap) US source for this rubber matting? I need to do running boards for my 39 Chrysler, so I need strips about 6 feet long. Last year I found one place (I forget where) that was selling it for $15 / foot plus very high shipping, it would have been about $140 delivered. Anyone know a reasonably-priced source?

If you want reproduction original style (if they make it for your model), it's going to cost you. But.........if you use either rubber stair tread or rubber floor runner matting. That should be cheaper than buying it from an auto parts vendor. It's usually sold by the foot at hardware stores, big box lumber stores and sanitation supply houses. Just look for a pattern that is close to what was original and use that for the running boards.

[David Maxwell]

...could pass for original at first glance. I would recommend eliminating the aluminum and using silicone to adhere them. Where did you get the material?

Here is a pic of the homemade sill mats. They are only cut to size, and not secured yet, not sure exactly how I am going to do this, maybe I should eliminate the aluminum strips, or paint them or something, any suggestions, on this and how to fasten them..........Thanx Fred